Secrets
Chapter 7 - Best Laid Plans

    Sailor Venus ran at top speed down the narrow residential street. It was three in the morning, the streets were deserted. Still, she had to watch her front very carefully. If she slammed into somebody at this speed, it would probably kill them.
    She broke out onto a major thoroughfare. Great, now she had to go uphill. Reluctantly, she slowed her pace a bit. Her muscles ached, pushed past the limit of what even a Sailor Senshi should be doing. If she pushed too hard, her legs might give out altogether.
    She spotted the great wooden archway that served as the entrance to a shrine. *This must be the place.* This one had no wall, so she ran straight up to the shrine building. She stood there, panting, scanning the area.
    "Nothing," Artemis said. He didn't even bother jumping down from her shoulder. No point getting out of her way, there was nothing happening here.
    Venus flipped up the face of her wrist communicator. She wheezed out words between great gulps of air. "Venus here ... no contact ... need directions."
    "Continue west," came Mercury's voice. She sounded like she was running. "Same street ... one kilometre ... shrine ... on your left."
    "Got it." They were still doing their sweeps. That meant nobody had pinpointed them yet. She ran back to the street and continued running west. Mercifully, she crested the hill and was going down the rest of the way. After just a few seconds, her communicator made a distinctive set of beeps. Venus rasped out a curse as she ran. She knew what that signal meant. There was a big long black iron fence to her left, that must be it. She leaped the fence, landed between two trees and ran out into the open space within the grounds.
    The dust was just about settled over the rubble. She must have missed them by seconds. "Damn it all to hell!" she wheezed.
    "Venus," Artemis said. "There are two people down."
    Venus saw them. Two women in shrine maiden robes, lying on the ground just in front of the ruins. "Oh Gods ..." She ran over to them. As she slowed, Artemis leaped to the ground. Venus knelt down next to one of them, and Artemis jumped over to the other. Venus felt the young woman's throat. There was a steady pulse. She brought her face down next to that of the comatose woman. It was hard to tell, what with Venus still panting from her running. But yes, the girl was breathing. Venus glanced over to Artemis, and got a nod from him. Alive and stable.
    She flipped up her communicator again. "Venus here. We missed them. Found two people unconscious. No emergency, but we should check them out."
    "We're on our way," came Mercury's voice.
    Venus closed her communicator and went to examining the two women more closely, looking for blood and feeling for any major broken bones. Nothing. Probably that guy with the creepy eyes got them from behind with some ESPer thing.
    "They must have been waiting in the shrine," Artemis said.
    "Yeah, just like that last one." At a previous site they had found three monks lying in front of a shattered temple building, just like this. There had been no sign of a physical attack, and supposedly they had woken a few hours after the Senshi left them there for the emergency workers to find, none the worse for wear. Like these two, they had defied standing orders to keep out of the temple buildings after dark. They had tried doing just what the police told them not to do: defend their holy places.
    "I hope they'll be okay," Artemis said, sitting down next to one of them.
    "Looks like these ones put up more of a fight," Venus said, walking over to a spot a little further from the ruins. There were two wards lying on the ground, the ink which inscribed the characters on the little pieces of paper grey and faded. Much like Rei's wards looked after she had used them. The gravel near them had been scattered about as if blown by an explosion. But there was a semicircle within whose arc the gravel was undisturbed. Except for some footprints that went from nowhere to nowhere. So the ESPers had taken a hit, but blew it off with some sort of barrier.
    Hopefully, it had at least hurt.
    Mercury and Mars came running around one side of the ruins, no doubt having leapt the back wall. They were both panting as badly as Venus had been. Whenever they found the site of an attack, they always converged on it as rapidly as possible, to back up whoever found it first in case the ESPers left a trap for them. So far, there had been nothing. The closest they'd come was Jupiter catching a glimpse of the four ESPers teleporting away one time.
    Without a word, the two of them went straight over to where the two unconscious women lay. Mercury flipped open her computer and started scanning. The translucent blue visor over her eyes, which in the dark more or less matched the blue of her collar and skirt, was already in place. Mars knelt by the other one, put a hand over her forehead. After a moment, the two Senshi looked up from their worked, gave each other a quick nod and switched places. Venus walked over and waited for them to finish.
    "They'll be fine," Mercury announced. "They suffered quite a shock, but in a few hours they should wake up with nothing worse than some aches and pains."
    "Their spirits are very troubled," Mars said, standing up from her examination of the second shrine maiden. "Whatever happened to them must have ... hurt."
    "Well, they got at least one good shot in," Venus said, gesturing over at the spent wards. It was small consolation, but she thought it might let Mars feel just a little better.
    The mirthless smile on Mars' lips confirmed that it was just cold comfort. "That isn't the half of it. There were wards all over this place, powerful ones. I could feel them as we came over the fence and through the trees. I saw shreds of many more in the ruins."
    "Maybe that's why it took the ESPers longer," Mercury suggested. "From the time Jeneth first detected them to the time she lost them was over fifteen minutes."
    "It still wasn't enough," Mars said bitterly.
    "So you didn't see them?" Mercury asked Venus.
    "No, I got here just on time to see the dust settle." She was feeling her frustration all the more. These shrine maidens had done everything they could to hold the ESPers off, and still the Senshi had just missed them.
    Venus heard footfalls behind her, and turned to see Sailor Moon and Jupiter running towards them. The last of their two-element teams, counting the recently conscripted Artemis. Venus flipped up her communicator. "We're all here now."
    "Understood," came Jeneth's voice. Sailor Moon had insisted at the beginning that the refugees, as they were all beginning to call them, would not be called to a site unless to aid a Senshi or a bystander in immediate danger, or until all the Senshi were there.
    Sailor Moon walked over to where the two shrine maidens lay. She had a stricken look on her face. Mercury and Mars had to give her repeated assurance that they would be okay.
    "Do you know these two?" Jupiter asked Mars.
    "I've met the one with short hair once or twice. I think her name is Nagisa. She's supposed to be quite a gifted oracle, but I had no idea she had it in her to try something like this," she said gesturing over at where the ESPers had apparently set down. "I don't know the other, I've almost never been to shrines in this area." They were in Adachi-ku, in the extreme norther part of metropolitan Tokyo. This new round of attacks had been even more spread out than earlier ones. The Senshi had taken to gathering at the shrine and teleporting to the area as soon as Jeneth notified them. The idea had been that they could pinpoint the exact location as Jeneth was brought in closer.
    Unfortunately, that wasn't the way it was turning out.
    The refugees shimmered into existence a short distance away. As Sailor Moon approached them, they all took a step forward and bowed. Venus knew how awkward that made Sailor Moon feel. The two of them had been wondering if they could find a way of getting them out of that habit. Short of saying something directly, which would be rude.
    "We just missed them," Sailor Moon informed them.
    "I'm so sorry," Jeneth said, sounding truly mortified.
    "Don't worry," Sailor Moon said gently. "With your help, we'll catch them yet."
    "That's right," Venus agreed, coming up beside Sailor Moon. "Their luck has to run out some time."
    "They may be lucky," Thetan said, "But they are also becoming clever. Once again, they have us moving all over the city, and at all different times of the night."
    "And I still have no idea how they're eluding aura vision," K'Theelm added.
    "Maybe I'm defeating myself somehow," Jeneth said, still looking miserable.
    "Only if you believe so," Thetan said gently.
    "Thetan has confirmed what you told us," K'Theelm reminded her. "They've started doing something to confound aura vision, and it gets worse as we approach closer to them. That's why you've only been able to detect their general vicinity."
    Jeneth shook her head. "Whatever the case, I am failing everyone."
    "No, you're not." Sailor Moon stepped up to her and gave her a tight hug. That really seemed to take her by surprise. Her haunted expression had vanished. Sailor Moon stepped back, held her at arms' length. "We wouldn't even have a chance of catching them without you. We still need you."
    "I will do my best," Jeneth said, smiling weakly. "Your pardon, but I would like to see what I can do for those poor young women." Sailor Moon accompanied her over to where the two shrine maidens lay. In the meantime, Mercury had walked over. She took the opportunity to get K'Theelm's attention. They moved aside and started talking technobabble. Venus knew they had been thinking about other means to detect these attacks, but from what she heard they had no luck so far.
    "I'm really glad we ran into each other," Venus said, smiling up at Thetan. "Sailor Moon is right, we'd be lost on this one without you."
    "I've just been coming along for the ride," Thetan said good naturedly. "I confess I'm beginning to feel ... how do you put it ... like a fifth wheel."
    "Your time will come," Venus said, winking. "Once we do catch up with them, it's open season on ESPers. And I for one plan on making them damned sorry for all this running around they've made me do."
    Thetan's face was split with a wide grin. "And I for one plan on making that invisible thief regret his shameful sneak attack on my good friend."
    "Well, just leave a piece of him for me, okay?"
    "I will do my best to pass him to you in a conscious state."
    "When we're done with these ESPers, I hope you'll have time to tell me some more of your stories." In the past couple of weeks, Venus had found time on a couple of occasions to pay a social call to their new allies at their home. Over exquisite dinners she had talked mostly with the big warrior, swapping war stories. She had enjoyed it immensely.
    "As always, it would be an honour and a pleasure," Thetan said. "As it would be to hear more of your baptism of fire in Great Britain."
    "Oh great, you want to hear about when I was even more young and stupid." Thetan had been astonished to learn that she had woken to her role as a Sailor Senshi when she was barely thirteen. And had been thrown straight into combat, learning as she went. A far cry from his own experience, where his first battle had been preceded by years of training.
    Jeneth and Sailor Moon returned to them. K'Theelm and Mercury also came to join them. "It is as they said," Jeneth told them. "The shrine maidens will awaken tomorrow with no ill effects. Hopefully I was able to give them a more restful sleep."
    "We've done all we can," Sailor Moon said. "We should be going."
    They all said their goodbyes, and the three refugees vanished behind K'Theelm's shield. The Senshi made their way out the back and walked slowly down deserted narrow residential streets, wanting to get some distance from the place that would likely be the site of intense activity very soon.
    "I think we're getting better at this," Venus commented as they walked. "Between us, we must have covered half the temples in this district in about five minutes."
    "You're right, it is going a lot smoother now," Sailor Moon said. She was in her Eternal Sailor Moon form, with the great feathery wings at her back. She smiled warmly. "Good job, everyone. We'll get them yet."
    "We'd have a better chance if we did our sweeps individually," Mars said.
    "We talked about that," Sailor Moon said firmly. "One of us against the four of them is just too risky." It had taken a lot of persuasion to get her even let Venus form a third group with only Artemis to help her. But he had already proven that a set of feline eyes and ears gave them an edge.
    "The problem is, we're shorthanded," Jupiter said.
    Sailor Moon sighed. "It can't be helped."
    Venus could hear the pain in her friend's voice. Shortly after Haruka and Michiru had arrived in town, Setsuna had invited Usagi over to their house. From Usagi's account, they had spent a long time trying to persuade her that these ESPers did not merit her attention, that she was risking herself for nothing. It had been very upsetting for her, but Usagi had held firm. Hotaru had kept the situation from becoming awkward by suggesting that they just agree to disagree, and further suggesting that the four of them show off the bridesmaids' dresses they had picked for Usagi's wedding.
    Minako hadn't said anything, but the whole thing sounded just a little too much like a good cop, bad cop routine.
    "I'll call Setsuna in the morning," Mercury said. "I guess she'll ask the usual questions about how things went, give me the usual lecture."
    "Is she still giving you a rough time?" Jupiter asked, sounding angry.
    "She only talks about it when I call after the Senshi go out," Mercury said. Setsuna had requested they keep her informed of their activities. Ami had volunteered, probably because among all of them she was closest to Setsuna. "I had lunch with her yesterday and she never even mentioned it. You know, it's really different from other times we've had disagreements with the Outer Senshi."
    "Yeah, this time they're not avoiding us," Venus said. "Hotaru showed up at my last concert, and I invited her backstage afterwards. From the way she acted, you'd think there was nothing going on."
    "Same with Haruka and Michiru," Jupiter said. "They just showed up at the restaurant last week and acted like nothing's wrong."
    "Well they are our friends," Sailor Moon said. "Even if we disagree about something, that shouldn't change."
    "Or maybe they're all just good actors," Venus said.
    "Sure wouldn't play poker with those four," Mars muttered. The rest of them had a good laugh. Even Mars smiled.
    "To be fair, I think they're really trying to make sure there are no hard feelings," Jupiter said. "Especially just before the wedding,"
    Sailor Moon sighed heavily. "I've been wondering-"
    Venus grabbed Sailor Moon by the shoulder, whipped her around and held her tightly at arms' length. "Don't you even *think* about it! You are getting married next week and then you are going to Hawaii for your honeymoon. Period."
    They all watched Sailor Moon in silence. Her shocked expression slowly faded. "Venus, if we-"
    "If we haven't caught up with the ESPers by that time, then we just leave them alone for a week." She winked. "Just enough for them to get cocky and us to come back with a vengeance."
    "Minako ..." Sailor Moon ran into her and crushed her in a tight embrace. "Thanks. You're the greatest."
    "Don't mention it."
    They found a little park a short distance further, a reasonably hidden place for them to teleport back to Hikawa Shrine from. They had long since gotten good enough at this to do it without tearing up the ground, so Rei didn't have to fuss over the shrine's maintenance bills anymore.

    *****

    Setsuna rounded the corner and walked down what she thought was the right street. This particular place was harder to find than the earlier ones had been, it was a good deal more obscure. It being nearly midnight, there was nobody around to ask directions from. But it couldn't be helped, this was the proper time for what she needed to do. The sharp footfalls of her high heels were the only sound to break the silence of the cool, windless night.
    She approached what looked to be the right place. The name on the brass plate beside the gate confirmed it. The police tape had been removed, but the gate was well secured with chains and locks. A discrete sign announced that the small temple was closed for renovations. Which was a nice way of saying that the rubble had been cleared and the place locked up.
    Setsuna stood before the gate, bowed her head, and joined her hands in the sign of prayer most common in the time of the Silver Millennium, left fist held within right hand at her breast. In a very low voice, she murmured a prayer to the dead which had not been heard on this world for thousands of years.
    As Mars had pointed out, these places had souls no less precious than those of living persons, deserving of no less respect.
    In just a slightly louder voice, in the same ancient language, Setsuna ended the prayer with a more personal appeal.
    "Please forgive."
    Having finished what she had come to do, Setsuna stood where she was just a moment longer. The ritual brought no comfort, nor any sense of having done proper penance, only a feeling of duty fulfilled. Her plea had been no less sincere for all that. It was no weakness, feeling grief for the sacrifices that had to be made.
    But the one whose forgiveness she would one day need to ask had no use for sacrifices. Even her seemingly infinite compassion might not let her forgive such treachery. Of all the possible consequences of what she was doing, none frightened her more than the thought that the love of their Princess might no longer extend to her.
    Setsuna turned and walked back to where she had parked her car. Somehow, it had not seemed proper, driving right up to this holy place in one of those noisy, smelly beasts.
    "Good evening, Ferine."
    Setsuna's whole body seized up. She could not have moved even if she wanted to, so great was her shock. That was a name and a voice she had not heard in millennia.
    She finished turning towards where the voice had come from, managing not to stagger. A man walked out of the shadow where he had been standing. He stood before her and smiled warmly, his hands held casually in the pockets of his light coat. He was a tall, slim man with light skin and wavy brown hair that went almost to his shoulders. He had an ageless face that it was hard to imagine displaying any emotion much beyond the amiable calm with which he regarded her.
    "I thought somebody might appear tonight," he said in a soft, clear voice. "Exactly one lunar month since this shrine had its soul ripped out, since it had in effect passed from this world. The traditional time of mourning for the Moon Kingdom. I never dreamed it would be you who would come."
    "Cyrus?" Setsuna whispered, trying to control her shaking.
    The man nodded. He took a couple of steps closer. "It's good to see you again, Ferine. It's been a very long time."
    "Cyrus ... how?"
    "After you and I went our separate ways, Queen Serenity took some interest in my work. She wanted to have me around for a while, so she worked her magic on me. I had never known she had the power to do such a thing. Understandable that she would keep it a secret."
    Involuntarily, Setsuna reached out her hand. Cyrus took her hand, squeezed it gently. It was sinking in now, this really was him. "I thought you surely perished in the Final War," more thinking aloud than asking a question.
    "I nearly was. I thought the same of you," he said, still holding her hand, watching her with that calm, placid smile. "When I saw you walk by here ... it was all I could do to stop from crying out. By the time you came back this way, I had just barely gotten over the shock. I'm sorry, I must have given you such a fright."
    Setsuna shook her head in wonder. "But ... why are you here?"
    Cyrus chuckled. "You can thank one of my students for that, a little girl who told me the Senshi Venus had been spotted running to the scene of one of these terrible acts of sacrilege. The rest was just a hunch."
    Setsuna smiled, her shock being washed away by the return of long forgotten memories. "You're a teacher again."
    "Some things never change. The relationship between sensei and student, however close, is a temporary one. It is a role well suited to somebody who cannot remain long in any one place."
    Setsuna knew what he was talking about. Somebody who never aged visibly could not hold on to any identity for much more than a decade before moving on. "My God, Cyrus, the length of time you've lived, it's mind-numbing."
    Cyrus looked puzzled for a moment. Then realization came, and his smile returned. "Oh, of course. You are the Guardian, you can travel outside of time."
    Setsuna saw and heard the hints of sadness, of regret. Her mind was suddenly cast back to the time of their parting, to the thing that had sent them on different paths.

    *****

    The Moon Kingdom, the time of the Silver Millennium

    She found him standing on the balcony, leaning on the massive stone railing, still waiting for her. His back was to her, he was looking out over the palace grounds. He never seemed to tire of the sight, not in all the years since he arrived here from Earth. It was daytime, or what might be called daytime. Here, the sun was as irrelevant to the cycles of their lives as was the great globe of the Earth that always hung in that same spot above them. Its rays baked the dust and rocks on the horizon, but the invisible shields that protected this area threw back most of the Sun's merciless glare, reduced it so that it seemed little more than a brilliant golden moon. She could imagine Cyrus standing here pondering the mysteries of the Moon Kingdom as he waited, looking with his eyes that were at once child like and wise. He had made the most of Serenity's generosity. Hardly a boy when presented to the Queen by his teachers from Earth, he had devoured every bit of learning thrown his way, right from the day he was accepted into the court. His insatiable curiosity and unfailing devotion to the truth had earned him respect never before afforded an outsider, had won him a position as one of the Queen's trusted advisors. It was those same qualities that had attracted her to him, had forged a friendship that promised to blossom into something more.
    But now, for the very first time, she found herself wishing she did not have to speak with him.
    As she approached he turned. Their eyes met, and the beginning of a smile formed on his lips. It faded just as quickly. They had known each other long enough to be well attuned to each other's state of mind. However stoic her bearing, he of all people would be able to see the anxiety she hid.
    He walked over to her, and they clasped hands. "Ferine, I was beginning to worry. You'd been locked up with the Guardian for hours. Are you okay?"
    "Yes, Cyrus. I'm fine."
    "What in Heaven's name did she want with you?"
    "She wants me to succeed her."
    His eyes went wide. "Ferine ..."
    "Cyrus, that is no longer my name. I am the younger Pluto."
    He released her hands and stepped back. He must have seen it in her face, must have seen that it was true. "You've accepted?"
    "Cyrus, it was not a matter of accepting. I am the one, that is all."
    Cyrus shook his head. "It doesn't make any sense. You've been one of their harshest critics, do you really mean to tell me they intend to share their secrets with you?"
    "They already have. I now know what the Guardians of Time do, and why. It is what I will also do, when my time comes."
    Cyrus' expression darkened. "You have taken their oath of secrecy."
    She hesitated for just a moment. "Yes, I have."
    His reaction was exactly what she would expect. Anger, confusion, hurt. "You mean to manipulate history in secret, just as they do?"
    A few short hours ago, she could imagine only one possible answer to that. *Never.* Never to follow the path of those who dared set themselves up as gods. But now, everything was different. "Cyrus, what the Guardians do is necessary. And the secrecy is necessary."
    She could see his anger simmering down to a cold intensity, the same intensity with which he confronted all those who would murder the truth. "Tell me why."
    She wanted to, wanted it more than anything she had ever wanted. But she knew what the truth had done to her, what it would do to him. She would protect him from that, no matter what. She shook her head. "I can't."
    "You mean you won't."
    His bitterness stung like a blade. "Cyrus ... I'm sorry."
    Cyrus nodded slowly, his expression dark and cold. "I'm sorry too."
    It hurt even more than what she had feared. The only thing that kept her from breaking down was the enormity of the burden that had been placed on her. Held up to the truths she had woken to, her pain seemed a mere trifle. Yet she longed to make amends. "Cyrus, I have no right to ask, but can you trust me when I tell you there are good reasons for what I must do?"
    He shook his head. "If you cannot tell me the reasons, then they cannot be good. If you cannot trust me with the knowledge, then I cannot trust you to use it well."
    They were her own words, ones she had both written and spoken many times over many years. His voice held no more bitterness, but it held judgement. He accused her with her own voice ... no, with the voice of Ferine, she thought sadly. The woman whose passion for the truth made her the perfect candidate for preserving the greatest lie of all, the perfect candidate for becoming Sailor Pluto.
    She looked down, no longer able to meet his accusing eyes. "There will be an announcement tomorrow. I will be leaving the day after."
    "I see."
    She looked up again. "It will be years before I take the Guardian's post, I will be visiting the Moon Kingdom frequently."
    "I would expect so."
    She could hear it in his voice. He didn't care. As far as he was concerned, Ferine was already dead. The woman he faced was a stranger.
    "The Guardian told me that Serenity was waiting for me," she said.
    "Then you'd better go."
    Again, only the enormity of what she had been told, what she had been shown, allowed her to ignore her pain. "Goodbye, Cyrus."
    "Goodbye, Pluto."
    In the years between then and her assuming the Guardianship, she visited the Moon Kingdom many times. Somehow, Cyrus always arranged to be elsewhere at those times. She never met him again.

    *****

    Tokyo, 1998

    She drove him to his apartment. They sat down and talked until morning.
    Pluto had spent most of the centuries after the Final War in her ethereal realm outside of time, in the misty little world beyond the Gate of Time where past, present and future were one. She had seen little of the utter devastation the war had wrought on the world. But Cyrus had seen it all. Fortunate enough to have been far from the great cities of the Golden Kingdom on Earth, he and a pitiful few had escaped the holocaust brought about by Beryl's demon hordes, and Serenity's attempt to contain them. He had spent centuries wandering the Earth with one group of refugees, then another, then another. Eventually he had despaired of finding any signs of the world he had known. Were it not for the evidence of his own immortal body, the evidence that magic had been done to him, he might think that those great kingdoms had never existed. That they had all been a dream.
    It took all night for him to recount even the barest outline of what had transpired since then. He had taken on literally hundreds of identities, many of which he remembered only as a name, a time and a place. A few of the names she even recognized as obscure historical figures.
    Of her own activities she could say little. He seemed to accept that.
    "It is astonishing we never met before this," he said, still holding her hand, as he had been for a while. "For all your time travel, you spent centuries wandering the Earth, just as I did."
    "I didn't spend even one tenth of those centuries in the timestream," Setsuna said. "Next to you, I am barely a stripling."
    He chuckled. "Well, I guess we both had our reasons for keeping a low profile. It wasn't very likely we would just stumble upon each other by accident."
    "If the dates and places you've given me are accurate, this isn't the first time we've lived in the same city at the same time."
    "Well, this time wasn't an accident."
    She nodded in understanding. "The Sailor Senshi."
    "Right. When I first heard of them, I thought it must be some joke of the Gods. I had hardly even thought about the Silver Millennium for centuries. Yet it seemed that its guardians had suddenly reappeared in Tokyo."
    "You truly hoped to find us here?"
    "Setsuna, to tell you the truth, I didn't know what to think." They had taken to calling each other by the names of their current identities. They both understood the importance of maintaining a false character, the discipline it imposed.
    "But you did move into the city."
    "Yes. I'd been here many times in the past, so I knew my way about. I could continue my work, while wondering if the stories I was hearing were true." He looked intently at her. "Setsuna, can you tell me, are the others really the Sailor Senshi brought back to life?"
    "That's not a simple question, Daniel. I'm not sure I know the complete answer myself. I'm sure each of them shares some part of the Senshi we knew in the Silver Millennium, not just the power but the soul. I knew all of them, and I recognize much of the Senshi I knew then in the ones I have come to know in this age. Only Princess Serenity retains much memory of her past life, though."
    Daniel gasped. "Princess Serenity ... ?"
    Setsuna smiled. "Now she is better known as Sailor Moon."
    Daniel slapped his forehead and uttered an oath Setsuna had not heard since before she became the Guardian. "How could I have missed it?"
    "Don't feel badly. As far as I can gather, Queen Serenity placed a very powerful confounding spell on all of them. Unless you knew them to be the same person, it would be almost impossible for you to associate the Princess with Sailor Moon, or with her current identity."
    Daniel smiled wistfully. "The Princess was such a joy to behold, such a treasure. Is she changed much now?"
    "At the core, she is the same. They all are. But they are also products of this age, and of the families they were born into. They have been guided by their ancient souls, but they have also been shaped by the blood of their new families, and the world they were born into."
    "I had always been told that were the Senshi to all perish, they would be reborn when the world needed them most."
    Setsuna nodded. "Not just the world, but the galaxy. They were reborn to end the Sailor Wars, once and for all."
    Daniel's expression became grim. "That was something Serenity only ever hinted at, even after taking me into her confidence. So it was true. Her battle with Beryl was only one part of a larger war."
    "Yes. The approaching forces of chaos triggered the resurrection of Beryl in this age, among other events. The final conflict came four years ago. Chaos was scattered, with the results we have seen. Chaos can no longer take conscious form, it simply lies in our hearts where we must deal with it as we will."
    "If that is true, then what enemy do you fight now?"
    Setsuna sighed. "That is not a simple story."
    Daniel glanced over at the rice cooker he had turned on some time ago. "Perhaps you can tell me over breakfast."
    She told him the story in a fair amount of detail, only leaving out anything that might identify the players in her tale. She had told him even before they got here that the identities of the Senshi were a trust she could not betray, even to him. With that exception, she told him everything of importance.
    He listened with a patience she recognized as being much like her own, one nurtured by the centuries. He never spoke, trusting her to tell him all she thought he should know. When she was done, he thought in silence for a while. "So you mean to resurrect the Silver Millennium here on Earth."
    "In effect, yes."
    He shook his head and sighed. "It's quite the tangled web you've woven. The Ancients and the Senshi play cat and mouse in the dark, none of them knowing the whole story. It's subterfuge worthy of Machiavelli himself."
    "I wish there were another way."
    "I think there is."
    Setsuna frowned. "What do you mean?"
    Daniel leaned forward, fixed her with a cold stare. "Tell the Ancients the truth. Tell them that bringing the Crystal Palace into being would destroy their world. Tell them if they value their lives they must keep the Seed Crystal buried forever."
    Her eyes narrowed. "Daniel, if I didn't know better I would think you know something about the Seed Crystal that I don't."
    "I know what you know, which is enough. I know it is almost certainly an artifact from the time of the Silver Millennium. It has to be something created by use of the Old Powers. The same powers that were used to create the Ginzuishou, to build the Moon Kingdom. The same powers that ultimately destroyed the Silver Millennium."
    Setsuna shook her head. "The Silver Millennium was destroyed by Beryl's demon hordes."
    "Beryl simply used those same powers in a different way. And Serenity's retaliation did no less damage. Believe me, I saw."
    Setsuna felt a tinge of anger. "Daniel, you know that's not fair. What happened was not Serenity's fault, she had no other option."
    "You're right. When faced with an enemy who used the Old Powers, she had no choice but to respond in kind. The result was inevitable."
    Setsuna shook her head. "No, the result was not inevitable. It could have been prevented, if different choices had been made before Serenity's time. Had the Moon Kingdom been able to exercise closer control over the Earth, Beryl could have been stopped long before her power grew out of control."
    "Is that your answer, control?" Daniel asked. The sharpness in his voice was only detectable by somebody like Setsuna, who knew him and observed him carefully. "How can you control something you don't understand? Do you have any idea what it is that gives the Senshi their power, that allows them to conjure their weapons out of thin air?"
    "No," Setsuna answered truthfully. "It could be that nobody knows that."
    "Then you cannot claim to know the consequences of using those powers once again."
    "I make no such claim. We have all learned to use the gifts we were given as best we can. What more can we do?"
    "Now that Chaos is dispersed, the Old Powers are no longer needed. Bury them, once and for all. Bury the Seed Crystal, bury the artifacts that give you your powers, bury it all."
    Setsuna regarded him in silence for a moment. "Why would you ask me to do such a thing?"
    Daniel leaned back, regarded her with that slightly distant look that told her he was choosing his words carefully, that he was trying to make her understand something important. "When I was watching this new, modern age develop, I was beginning to think that I was seeing the old kingdoms born again. This age has produced wonders to rival those of the Silver Millennium. For a while I even tried searching out the sources of these new wonders, thinking that some artifact, some piece of knowledge from those lost kingdoms had been uncovered. Eventually it dawned on me, how utterly wrong I was, how utterly different this new age was from the old. The Old Powers had been handed to us in a time that was little but legend even in the time of the Silver Millennium. Whether by design or by accident, the original Senshi were given powers that were passed on to their successors over the ages. They learned to use those powers, and to a limited degree they and the people around them grew to understand the nature of those powers. But there was never any doubt that they were not our own, that they were the product of some minds utterly unfathomable to us. Whether those ancient ones intended these powers as a gift or a curse or simply cast them in our direction as discarded flotsam, the fact is they were never truly ours. We were never more than children, playing with things we did not understand."
    Daniel leaned forward, folded his hands on the table. "This age is different. This civilization we can truly say we built with our own hands, with the products of our own minds. Wherever we are intended to go from here, we can truly say it is our own destiny. Bring back the Old Powers, and we will lose that. Even should the new Silver Millennium flourish, and not be demolished as the last one was, it will not be truly ours. It will be a hand-me-down."
    Setsuna sensed that he was done. "Daniel, those very ideas were debated even in the time of the Silver Millennium. Even by you and I."
    "I know that," he answered. "The difference is that back then we could not conceive of a civilization that was not built on the foundation of those alien powers. Now we know that there can be one. Look around you."
    Setsuna smiled sadly. "I see a world that is no less capable of one day destroying itself than was the Moon Kingdom. I see that fate coming closer with each passing day."
    "Much of that is the fault of the most recent clash of the Old Powers. You make my argument for me."
    "Be that as it may, the point stands," Setsuna said. "This world stands on the brink. Whether in a few hours of atomic fire or generations of decay, its ultimate collapse is becoming more and more likely. There is no denying that. The Old Powers may be the only thing that will let us survive what is to come."
    "I don't deny that a new dark age may be approaching," Daniel said. "But that gives me no reason to think the Old Powers could save us. For millennia, humanity has survived the worst this world had to throw at it, survived and flourished, without the dubious benefit of that old curse. I think we've proven that we can walk our own path. However thorny it may be, however many missteps we make, we have always managed to persevere. We've earned the chance to make our own future."
    "Daniel, I've already told you that I've seen the sort of future the Princess can make for us. If she uses the Old Powers to bring Crystal Tokyo into being, what of it? Those powers are a fact of life, they exist whether we like it or not. If we try to bury them, they will reappear again, sooner or later."
    "If it's later rather than sooner, maybe we'll be ready for them this time," Daniel said. "They were buried for more than ten thousand years. Think of what we may know, what we may be able to do in another ten thousand years. If the Powers emerge again, they may be nothing but quaint anachronisms to the giants we could become."
    "The Old Powers are different," Setsuna insisted. "You can't engineer a ginzuishou into existence, can't build one in a factory."
    "No. But somebody did create it. Somebody *made* those artifacts. Someday we could learn how."
    "Those ancient ones may very well have been endowed with powers we have no hope of ever understanding."
    Daniel's expression showed disappointment. "If you truly believe that, then you have set them up as gods. I have no way to answer that."
    "Daniel, I truly know nothing more of the ones to whom I owe my powers. I can only tell you that I have faith those powers can be made into forces of good, if used properly. Ultimately, my faith lies with those who wield the powers. I have faith in our Princess, in her ability to bring about the future I have seen."
    "Not faith enough to tell her the whole truth, it would seem."
    That stung worse than Setsuna would have thought. "I do have faith in her, but I must also give mind to her limitations. There are certain things I can deal with that she cannot. This is one of them. Nobody can regret more than I do that it must be this way."
    Daniel's expression slowly softened, ever so slightly. "I can see that you love her. I truly hope she can find it in herself to forgive you for what you are doing. But I still think that no good can come from keeping her in the dark."
    Setsuna smiled sadly. "It seems you and I are continuing that conversation so long ago, are still divided by the same argument."
    "Secrets always divide people."
    "But you and I know more than anybody that we all live with secrets."
    Daniel surprised her by smiling cheerfully. "Touche. Living a lie all this time, I hardly even think about it any more. I should not be so quick to judge." His expression sobered. "I truly regret having treated you so harshly. You're right, that ultimately it comes down to faith. I should have had more faith that you were protecting me from something I was better off not knowing."
    "You're wrong," Setsuna said. Daniel raised an eyebrow, indicating his puzzlement. "It's not faith," she explained. "It's love. I was motivated by love then, just as I am now. Of course, I want to see our world have the best possible future. But ultimately, I want it because that is the world my Princess lives in. And now I know it is the world that you live in. Those are the two best reasons for making that future happen."
    Daniel smiled warmly. They both reached across the table and clasped hands, sitting like that for a while. When they had last parted so long ago, Setsuna had been just starting to acknowledge her own feelings, love and respect and desire all getting mixed up in her young mind. It had all been so complicated then, and had been shot to pieces before she could explore it any further, had been buried deeply over the centuries. Now rekindled, those feelings seemed so absurdly simple.
    But it wasn't something she felt compelled to explore right away. The centuries had changed her perception of time, she was content to leave things be for now. Daniel seemed to feel the same way, judging from his contented expression.
    "I feel almost silly saying this," Daniel said, "but I have an appointment in a couple of hours."
    "It's been a long night," Setsuna said. "I should be going home before my friends start to worry about me, and while I'm still in shape to drive."
    They both stood. "Will I see you again soon?" Daniel asked. It was understood that she would have to contact him. Her place of residence would lead to the Senshi, and so had to remain a secret.
    "Yes, I'll call soon. We've got a lot of catching up to do."
    "I know you can't say much about what you've been up to," Daniel said, "but you must have done plenty of things besides being the Guardian of Time these past ten thousand years. I'll bet we've had a great many common acquaintances along the way, why don't we try and see how many we can discover?"
    "I'd like that very much." Setsuna suddenly felt that just bowing and saying goodbye wasn't quite right. She surprised herself by acting on that feeling. She stepped up to Daniel and embraced him tightly. He looked pleasantly surprised. "In fact, how about dinner tonight?" she asked.
    "Well, if you come around seven that will give me enough time to prepare a dish that was a favourite of the Empress Himiko who held court here in about the second century A.D."
    "Interesting, I had spent most of that century in the New World around El Dorado, I was nowhere near Japan. Legend places the empress Himiko somewhat later than that."
    "So El Dorado really existed?"
    Setsuna smiled. "I can see we'll have a great deal to talk about."
    "I'm looking forward to it."

    *****

    Shoji stood on the balcony of the rooms he was sharing with Yui in the Matriarch's house. He looked out over the vast, unspoiled forest spread out below him. It seemed to go on forever. He had spent days wandering through it, and had come nowhere near the edge of the domain that was theirs alone. Fear of ancient legends kept the locals out, and various tricks of the Ancients turned back the few tourists who decided to venture in. Shoji had the vast space practically to himself. He could imagine himself a great feudal lord, master of all he surveyed.
    *Man, this is gettin' old.*
    Now that they were back from Tokyo with a new batch of Soul Icons in tow, Yui had come up with a new one. Now she was *talking* to the damned crystal. Telepathically, of course. Yui hadn't used her vocal cords since she was a toddler. She had insisted that she needed to do this alone, so all the sensitives had been unceremoniously escorted out of the caves by the Matriarch's heavies. Shoji suspected this was just an excuse to order them about and to further delay their return to Tokyo. The weirdos had nearly caught up with them a couple of times. Kaori's gizmo was doing its job, but clearly it was not perfect. Yui and Akechi were getting nervous again.
    It was amusing to watch the household running about at Yui's beck and call, but it was all starting to wear thin. Just how many times could he soak in the hot springs or wander through the forest? Put simply, he was feeling very neglected.
    He heard the ancient floorboards in the hallway creaking. He turned to look. The elaborately painted panel slid open. One of grandma Himiko's young maidservants was kneeling outside the door. They all looked the same to Shoji, with their hair all done up like Geisha and their practically identical kimonos. She placed her fingertips down on the floor and bowed. "I apologize for the intrusion."
    "No prob," Shoji said, walking back into the room. "What can I do for you?"
    "The Matriarch would have Shoji-san present himself to her in the tea room."
    These people all had this annoyingly oblique way of expressing a simple order as if it were a polite request. Presumably she meant now. "Yeah, I guess I can fit her into my busy schedule. Lead the way."
    The young woman stood, her expression still neutral, never meeting his eyes. Shoji had never been able to get a rise out of any of them, even the one whose ass he had groped. It was sure fun being the guests of honour. They even washed his clothes and had them neatly folded for him each morning. They also kept leaving a formal man's kimono that they no doubt would like him to wear. He kept ignoring it, kept wearing the jeans and T- shirts he had brought with him.
    The maidservant led him down to the main floor and over to the tea room. She kneeled beside the closed panel and opened it partway. She bowed down to whomever was inside. From where he stood waiting, Shoji could not see in. **Forgive the intrusion. Shoji-san has come as requested.** Shoji wondered why the woman was suddenly using telepathy.
    **Have him enter,** came the Matriarch's open sending.
    The maidservant opened the panel the rest of the way, slid aside and bowed to Shoji. He walked in, and suddenly knew why they were using telepathy.
    Grandma Himiko sat their waiting. To her left were his Aunt Megumi, and her little son Akira. To her right was Yui. They sat in a square that was completed by an unoccupied cushion, no doubt for him.
    Nobody was smiling. Shoji decided he'd better act accordingly.
    **Good afternoon, grandma Himiko,** he said, bowing.
    **Sit down.** Stern, but not angry. They were here to talk serious business, but not here for a dressing down. Shoji took his place. He smiled at little Akira, who smiled back. The little boy was unlikely to be an active part of whatever was going on here, he was no doubt present simply because Aunt Megumi never let him out of her sight. The boy was well-behaved to a fault, unless addressed directly he would probably sit there like a statue. Which was probably just as well, since there was some doubt as to whether he could even hear telepathic signals any more. Shoji spared just a quick glance for Yui. She looked a little nervous, probably just because of the formality. Not frightened or agitated.
    **Two days ago, your Aunt Megumi travelled to Sapporo to visit the man to whom we owe the return of young Akira to our family.**
    So that's where they had gone off to. **You mean Takada-san.**
    Himiko sniffed, her expression becoming rueful. **Whatever his true identity, that is what he chooses to call himself.**
    Shoji had always wondered what the Matriarch felt about the enigmatic Takada. It looked as if she had mixed feelings, acknowledging their debt to him but not fully trusting him. Everybody in the family had their own opinion on the elusive man, even though Megumi and Akira were the only ones who had ever actually met him. There was no doubt at all he had pulled Akira out of a real mess, maybe prevented him from doing something that would have brought the outsiders hunting them all down without mercy. There were various theories about who exactly he worked for. Aunt Megumi practically worshipped the man, as one would expect. Shoji had always wanted to meet the guy, he sounded interesting.
    **Yesterday Megumi related to me an outline of their conversation,** Himiko continued. **He was asking questions about the shrines and temples that are being demolished.**
    That got Shoji's interest. **What sort of questions?**
    Again, that rueful smirk. **Very oblique questions suggesting that he was making official inquiries into the incidents. And suggesting that we might be able to tell him something about them.**
    Shoji turned to Megumi. **What did you tell him?**
    **Nothing.** she replied. She cast her eyes down. **Nothing specific.**
    **It seems the questions took your Aunt Megumi by surprise,** Himiko said. There was annoyance expressed in her sending, but no rebuke. **More than likely it was obvious to Takada that she did know something more about the incidents. He has probably concluded that somebody in the family is responsible.**
    Shoji tried to head off what he figured was coming next. **He's probably some sort of government agent helping the police. He knew about us before, so he must have already suspected. I doubt Aunt Megumi did more than confirm that.**
    **He is more than just a government agent,** Himiko said sharply.
**He is a spell caster, maybe even a magi. That means he wields powers not unlike our own. It also means he understands those powers at least as well as we do.**
    Probably better, Shoji thought. Though he certainly didn't want to say that here. **We're unlikely to run into him, if that's what concerns you,** Shoji said. **He's only one man.**
    **Only one that we know of,** Himiko said. **Where there is one spell caster, that points to a whole society of them. He no doubt has allies, no telling how many.**
    The Matriarch turned to fix her gaze on Yui, then back on Shoji.
**Until I say otherwise, I don't want you taking the life force from any further holy places. Do you understand?**
    **Yes, Matriarch,** Yui said quickly.
    That clinched it. There was no point arguing, at least not now.
**Yes, Matriarch,** Shoji said.
    **You may go.**
    Himiko's four guests got up and left. Shoji closed the door behind them. As they walked down the hall, they all gradually relaxed from the formality of the meeting. They stopped at the stairs. **Don't feel bad, Aunt Megumi,** Shoji said. **Like I said, this Takada guy probably already suspected us. I think he was just trying to spook you.**
    **I don't like lying to him,** Megumi said. She didn't sound bitter, just sad. **He's a good man.** She looked earnestly at him. **Shoji, please do as the Matriarch says. It would break your mother's heart if anything happened to you.**
    **I'll do as she says,** Shoji said, smiling. **I promise.**
    **Thank you. Please excuse me, I need to prepare Akira's meal.**
    **Okay, see you both later.**
    **See you, Aunt Megumi,** Yui said, waving casually. She didn't bother saying anything to Akira, there probably wouldn't be much point. Shoji and Yui went up the stairs. Shoji still kept his anger and frustration reined in. He didn't want Yui to think he was mad at her, which he wasn't. **Did you just get out of the cave?** he asked.
    **Yes. One of grandma's girls was waiting for me in the garden, she told me that grandma Himiko wanted to see me. Grandma told me the story before she sent for you.**
    Shoji figured as much. Wanted to get Yui's agreement to this first, knowing she was nervous about going back to Tokyo for more Soul Icons.
**Well, I guess we're shut down for the time being.**
    **Sorry, Senpai.** It looked like she felt bad about agreeing so readily. She probably thought he was disappointed she hadn't stood up to the Matriarch.
    Shoji stopped them in front of their room, leaned over and kissed the top of her head. **Don't worry about it. I don't think more Soul Icons are going to make much of a difference now anyway. Probably just as well.**
    That seemed to cheer her up a bit. They went into their rooms. There was no proper furniture, so Shoji had taken to folding up the futons into a rude slouch chair of sorts, which probably annoyed the servants to no end. He reclined on the folded quilts, and Yui came down and snuggled up beside him. **I was really tired from talking to the Crystal, I didn't feel up to arguing.**
    All part of the Matriarch's planning, Shoji thought. Crafty old cow.
**So did the crystal say anything back to you?**
    She hesitated for a second. Her expression was a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Shoji's interest really perked up. **You came out after a pretty short time,** he observed, that having just occurred to him now.
**Was there something new?**
    She stayed resting against his chest, not rising to meet his gaze. She hesitated for a moment longer before continuing. **I'm not really sure, but when I ask the Crystal what it wants, it's like there's a sort of answer that comes back. It's in a really distant fuzzy voice, like an echo or something.**
    **A voice?** Shoji asked.
    **Not really a telepathic voice, more like a memory going right into my head. Like words I heard somebody say in a dream.**
    **What words?**
    Again, a moment's hesitation. **It says to seek the ones with the ancient souls.**
    They sat in silence for a while as Shoji rolled that one around in his head. **Have you told anybody else?**
    **No. I was kind of excited, I wanted to come see you first. I also wasn't too sure, but now that I've told you I'm a little more confident about it. I'm sure that's what I heard. Do you think we should go tell the others?**
    **No, I think we should sit on this one for a while.**
    **Senpai, do you know what it might mean?**
    **Nothing leaps to mind. But if we take it literally, there may be somebody who can help us find what the Crystal wants.**
    Yui moved over a bit, looked up at him. **Help us? Who?**
    Shoji smiled. **I think I'll go pay a visit to some of the black sheep of the family.**
    Yui's expression darkened. **Why them?**
    **The ones I'm thinking of can see into people's souls better than any of us. I have no idea what an ancient soul - whatever that means - would look like. But one of them might know.**
    **I don't like them.**
    **Oh, they're not so bad,** Shoji said soothingly, squeezing her a bit closer. **They are the way they are because of what they can see.**
    **It's because of what they can see that I don't like them.**
    **Well, you don't have to come along. And don't worry, I know enough to stay away from the dangerous ones. They mark their territory clearly enough.**
    **So you'll just be seeing vagrants?**
    **Yeah.**
    **They ... don't talk much.**
    **They talk well enough, if you prod them the right way.**
    **So what happens if they find somebody? I mean somebody with an ancient soul or whatever.**
    Shoji grinned. **Then we'll go hunting different game.**

    *****

    The music swelled and the lights went down, all except for the ones over the dance floor. To yet another round of applause, Mamoru led his bride out into the wide open area that was surrounded by all the tables. Usagi seemed to float along the floor next to him, her white wedding dress barely clearing the ground. Right on cue, she returned his bow with an elegant curtsy. Their hands still joined, they moved in closer, Mamoru slipping his hand around her waist, she resting hers on his shoulder. For just a moment they stood there, utterly still, looking into each other's eyes. Then at just the right moment they swirled around, Usagi's dress and long golden pigtails fanning out behind her. They waltzed round and round, oblivious to everything but themselves and the music that carried them along.
    Minako blew her nose again. "Thazzo beautiful ..." she whimpered, dabbing at her eyes.
    "Another tissue?" Ami asked softly, holding out another tissue paper as discretely as she could. Having anticipated this reaction she had two little pouches folded almost invisibly into her long bridesmaid's dress. One for the tissues she kept handing Minako ... the other for the ones she got back. Ami made a point of not venturing too far from her friend, she hoped she had brought enough to last the evening.
    All eight of the bridesmaids were standing in a row beside the dance floor. No two of their dresses were in any way similar. Rei's was certainly the most flamboyant ... Ami had almost been afraid she would show up in red boots, but was relieved to see that she had settled on red high heels, surprise surprise. She noted that most of the others had done what Ami had, chosen a colour more or less matching their Sailor Senshi skirt. The exception was Pluto, who had quite properly foregone wearing black. Her own dress was of a cut that looked to be from nineteenth century continental Europe. It might very well be an original, Ami would have to ask her sometime.
    "I see Usagi wasn't the only one to change outfits after the ceremony," Makoto said, glancing past Michiru at the one who stood slightly apart from the others.
    Haruka smiled. "It's part of the compromise I made with the bride," she said. The dress she wore at the ceremony had been a rather severe thing, buttoned up to the neck and with long sleeves puffed at the shoulders. Now she wore a white tuxedo.
    "You mean she knew you were going to do this?" Hotaru asked. She sounded like she disapproved.
    "Yes, this was the product of very long negotiation."
    "And what did you negotiate away?" Makoto asked.
    "Dance lessons," Haruka said, gesturing out to the happy couple. It looked like the lessons had paid off, neither of them had missed a beat as they swirled around the dance floor.
    "I liked your dress," Hotaru said. "I still think you should have kept it on."
    "I couldn't very well do that," Haruka said. She moved in next to Michiru and they joined hands. "After all, Michiru needs a dance partner for the evening." With that, they moved out onto the dance floor and joined the waltz. They kept in perfect time with Usagi and Mamoru, mirroring their movements exactly, always keeping just on the opposite side of the dance floor.
    Makoto crossed her arms and glared at them. "Hmph. Those two still think they shine brighter than the sun."
    "Right ... " Rei began to say. Any further comment was interrupted by the best man approaching her. Yuichirou smiled, offering his arm to the maid of honour. Rei's expression of annoyance melted instantly. She took his arm, and let herself be led out onto the floor. The waltz soon carried them away. Ami noticed that Usagi's parents were now dancing as well. Other couples were getting up from the tables to follow suit.
    Ami noticed Usagi's little brother Shingo approaching. Not so little anymore, she noted. He would be graduating from high school next year. How time flies.
    Shingo walked up to Hotaru, smiling nervously. "Would you like to dance, Hotaru-san?"
    "Yes, I'd love to," she answered brightly. He took her hand, and they joined in the dance. Ami kept her eye on them. They moved as smoothly as any of the adult couples. Better, in fact. "They dance very well together, Shingo and Hotaru," she commented. "I didn't know either of them did ballroom dancing."
    "Hotaru told me she's been taking lessons in preparation for the wedding," Setsuna said, rubbing her chin meditatively. "I've no idea where, though." She smiled. "Your pardon, but I believe I've been targeted," she said softly.
    A man who Ami recognized as one of Usagi's uncles came and asked Setsuna to dance, who accepted. In short order, Makoto and Minako were snatched up. The latter still had red, swollen eyes, but at least she wasn't sniffling anymore. At least not for now. She'd be fine, as long as she didn't trip on her dance partner. Ami caught herself trying to guess what the odds were of that happening.
    "Would you like to dance, Ami?"
    She hadn't even noticed Ryou coming up beside her, so intent was she on watching the elegant spectacle of all the couples swirling about. Like her, Ryou tended to be very quiet and unobtrusive, almost to a fault. He would never call attention to himself unless there was a reason, would never be loud for the sake of show. Which was why she felt so comfortable with him, whether they were talking or sharing a quiet moment. Which was why they were so perfect together.
    "I'd love to," Ami said. They stepped forward, and she moved into his arms.
    "Ryou-kun?" she said, just as they were about to start.
    "Yes, Ami?"
    "The answer to your question is 'yes'."
    His face was a delight to behold, as puzzlement quickly gave way to comprehension, then to unabashed joy. "Ami ... "
    She winked. "Are we going to dance or not?"
    For the next little while the world consisted of the two of them and the music, nothing more. Ami had wondered what it would feel like, when she finally gave him her answer. All she knew was, she would be quite content to stay right here for the next thousand years.
    In between dances, Makoto cornered her in the hallway that led to the powder room. "Okay, out with it."
    "What?"
    Makoto crossed her arms, her eyes narrow and probing but her smile friendly. "You and Ryou suddenly both look like that cat that swallowed the canary. What's the big secret?"
    Ami wondered why she didn't feel embarrassed. Somehow, that just wasn't part of her emotional vocabulary anymore. She just smiled. "I said yes."
    Makoto's eyes went wide. "Here? Today?" Ami nodded. Makoto's face split in a grin of pure joy. "Oh, Ami-chan ..." she reached out and crushed Ami against her. She had to think quickly, turning so that the side of her head was nestled under Makoto's chin, not wanting to get makeup on her taller friend's breast. "That's such wonderful news," Makoto whispered.
    Ami squeezed her back. "I owe this to you too. It was your words that helped me make this decision."
    "Nonsense," Makoto said gently, still holding her close. "I just told you what you already knew."
    "Yes, you did. But you helped me find the courage to take this step. I can never thank you enough, onesama."
    Makoto's grip on her loosened. Ami wondered why she was so quiet. Then it dawned on her what she had said.
    Ami stepped back, and Makoto let her go. Ami stared down at her fidgeting hands, suddenly finding embarrassment was still part of her vocabulary after all. "I'm sorry ... uh, Mako-chan. The fact is, I've sort of thought of you that way for a long time. I know technically I'm older than you ... I guess it's silly mentioning that. Still, I've thought of you as a big sister. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you."
    "Embarrass?" Ami looked up, surprised by the emotion in Makoto's voice. She had barely been able to speak. She looked like she was trying very hard not to cry. "Ami, I couldn't be more ... honoured." From the way she said it, the word was woefully inadequate.
    Ami took both of Makoto's hands in her own. They stood like that for a few moments. When it looked like Makoto was no longer fighting back tears, Ami said "Come on, let's go back. This is Usagi's day, we should be with her."
    The magical night continued. All too quickly, it was time for the newlyweds to say their goodbyes and go change yet again, this time for their ride to the airport. They both looked blissfully happy, but Ami thought she detected some undercurrents of anxiety in Usagi's manner. She had been living with Mamoru for over a year now, it didn't seem to make sense that she would be nervous about their honeymoon. She was probably exhausted, Japanese weddings tended to put the bride through a marathon.
    When Minako suddenly approached her, Ami could see something was wrong. She wasn't crying anymore, but she didn't look happy. "Ami, can I see you for a second?"
    "Sure." She turned to Ryou, with whom she had been talking. "I'll be right back."
    He smiled. "Okay, see you soon." There was just a hint of worry, well hidden but unmistakable. Maybe he had interpreted Minako's manner as meaning this was Sailor Senshi business. Maybe it was.
    Minako led her across the room, quickly but not so much so that it would attract attention. "Usagi's getting cold feet," she said in a low voice when they were out of earshot. "I think I'll need some backup here."
    "What do you mean?" Ami asked. Minako looked almost angry, she couldn't imagine what was going on.
    "I mean she doesn't want to go."
    "What? You mean on her honeymoon?" Ami tried to keep her voice down, despite her shock.
    "That's right." They left the banquet hall and entered the hallway that led to the dressing rooms, where Usagi and Mamoru had gone. Minako stopped there, as it finally provided space to speak in private.
    "Minako, what's going on?" Ami asked.
    Minako took a deep breath and let it out, as if calming herself. "Some time between dances, Mamoru and Usagi were talking to his old classmate Saori."
    Ami remembered her. Saori was a detective now, as she recalled. "So?"
    "So, Saori decides to tell them about this new case she's on, and guess what? She's investigating all these temples that the ESPers are demolishing. So she goes on and on about how terrible the crime is, how difficult it's going to be to catch these people, how Interpol is sticking their nose in and how her bosses are all over her to find answers."
    "Oh, no ..." Ami was beginning to see what was wrong.
    Minako nodded. "Yeah, so they have to stand there and nod and say how terrible it is and pretend they don't know a thing. Anyway, it sounds like it's really got Usagi spooked, she seems to think something awful will happen to us while she's away. She wants to call it off. Dammit, we can't let her do that!"
    "I know," Ami said gently. "We should go talk to her."
    "It's all that stupid cop's fault!" Minako hissed. "What the hell did she think she was doing, talking about something like that at a wedding? At *Usagi's* wedding! And it's bad luck too, talking about stuff like that right in the wedding hall! Can't cops talk about anything but their work? Don't they have lives or anything?"
    "Easy, Mina-P," Ami whispered, using her favourite term of endearment from years ago. She reached up and ran her hands along both sides of Minako's neck, and down her bare shoulders. Her touch was something between a caress and a massage, something she had learned from long experience could help relax her. "We'll go talk to Usagi. It'll be okay, you'll see."
    "This day was supposed to be so perfect!" Minako said. The edge was coming off her anger, but she was still upset. "Why did this have to happen?"
    "It's nobody's fault," Ami said, still kneading Minako's shoulders. She could feel some of the tension being worked out. "Saori couldn't have known how it would upset Usagi. I'm sure she'd be very sorry if she knew she'd upset Mamoru's wife."
    Minako's expression suddenly became less troubled. The corners of her mouth came up just a bit. "Mamoru's wife ... you said that like it was the most normal thing in the world. It really hasn't had time to sink in for me. Our Prince and Princess, they're married."
    "Yes, they are," Ami said softly, now just holding Minako's shoulders, running her thumbs along her collarbones. "They're our King and Queen now." She smiled. "But I don't think they'll mind us calling them Prince and Princess. At least not until they're in the Crystal Palace."
    Minako finally showed the smile Ami had been trying to coax out of her. "Just like you to be thinking that far ahead."
    "Should we go ahead now?"
    Minako's expression sobered. She was not upset now, just concerned, thoughtful. "Ami, what do we tell her? I told her I'd look out for everybody while she was gone, that we won't be taking any action against the ESPers. Rei even promised she wouldn't do anything, even if they attacked Hikawa shrine. Rei always keeps her promises, Usagi knows that. Why isn't that enough?"
    Ami sighed. "I think you know the answer to that."
    Minako regarded her for a moment, her brow furrowed. Then came comprehension ... and pain. "She's watched us all die," she breathed.
    Ami nodded. "Twice. We all died, and she was left alone. Twice."
    Minako shook her head. "But she's only leaving for a week. There hasn't been an attack in days, there may not even be one in a week. Even if there is, we won't be going anywhere near it. She knows that!"
    "Minako, did you ever notice that since Galaxia's defeat, Usagi has never once left this city unless either Mamoru or at least one of the Senshi was with her?"
    Minako looked as if she was trying to think of an example to prove her wrong. Ami knew there was none. "Oh God ... Ami, did she ever say anything to you?"
    Ami shook her head. "I doubt she's even said anything to Mamoru. She doesn't like us to know how she worries. But I'm sure the only reason she can even bear the thought of leaving us all here for a week is that he would be with her. This would be hard for her even if Saori hadn't said those things."
    "Oh ..." Minako looked at her with imploring eyes. "Ami, what can we say to her?"
    Ami smiled. "Let's just go see her, okay? The words will come."
    Minako hesitated a moment, then nodded. "Okay."
    They continued down the hallway. One of the ushers of the wedding hall was standing in front of a doorway. He and Minako nodded to each other, and he opened the door for them. It would appear they were expected.
    It was a comfortable little sitting room, a nice quiet place for bride and groom to meet before heading out to say goodbye to their guests one last time. Usagi and Mamoru were sitting together on the loveseat. The table in front of them held two coffees that hadn't been touched. They had changed, and were presumably ready to go. But Usagi looked far from ready.
    "Hi, you two!" Minako said brightly. "All ready for some fun in the sun?"
    At sight of them, she stood, letting go of Mamoru's hands. "Minako .." she walked over and took her friend's hands in her own. "I ... I don't think I can do this. I can't leave you all behind, not now."
    "Oh, don't be silly," Minako said. "I already told you we won't do anything while you're away. Everybody promised. You just call Setsuna on her cellular as many times as you want, and she'll tell you we're all okay as many times as you want." She winked. "Call her every morning, okay?" Ami wondered if she knew that would be about three in the morning local time ... maybe she did.
    Usagi shook her head. "I'll be so worried ..."
    "No, you won't. You'll take one look at Hawaii, and right away you'll be having so much fun you'll probably forget to call."
    "I don't know ..." Usagi said, looking down at her hands.
    Mamoru walked up and put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, and he smiled fondly. "Usako, it's up to you. I don't want you to make any decision you're not comfortable with. We can go now or some other time, whichever you prefer."
    "Usagi."
    Ami had her attention now. She stepped closer, looked into Usagi's eyes. "Usagi, we'll never leave you again. We'll never let you be alone again. I promise."
    "Ami-chan ..." Usagi ran over and hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry. I'm being silly, aren't I?"
    Ami stroked the back of her neck. "Silly girl. Silly, silly girl." After a little while, she managed to extricate herself from Usagi's embrace. "You still have to say goodbye to your family, and then to everybody else."
    Usagi sniffed, carefully dabbed at a tear with her handkerchief. "Okay."
    "We'd better get out of your hair, then," Minako said.
    Usagi took Minako's hand in both her own. "Please watch out for everyone while we're gone."
    Minako winked. "Leave it to me. They're all safe in my hands."
    While Minako and Usagi were talking, Ami spared a glance at Mamoru. He didn't have to say how grateful he was to her, the look he gave her said it all. His wife was happy again, that's all that mattered.
    Usagi gave each of her bridesmaids a big hug on the way out to their limousine. Minako was crying buckets again. Ami asked Setsuna to take them to Minako's place first. By the time they dropped her off, her eyes were all red again but she was pretty much done. Before being dropped off herself, Ami warned Setsuna that she could expect to get calls from Hawaii at odd hours of the night.

End Chapter 7